GPA calculator
Add one row per course. Choose the letter grade, the course type (honors, AP and dual enrollment carry extra weight), and the credit value: 1 credit for a full-year course, 0.5 for a semester. Both GPAs update as you type.
Unweighted GPA
4.00
4.0 scale
Weighted GPA
4.00
honors +0.5 · AP/DE +1.0
Total credits
4
credits attempted
Ready to put this on paper? Our transcript builder uses these same rules to lay out a complete, signed homeschool transcript with your courses, credits and GPA.
How GPA is calculated
GPA is a credit-weighted average of grade points. Each letter grade converts to a number of grade points on the 4.0 scale. Each course's grade points are multiplied by its credit value to produce quality points. The GPA is the sum of all quality points divided by the total credits attempted, rounded to two decimal places.
For example: an A (4.0) in a 1-credit course earns 4.0 quality points; a B (3.0) in a 0.5-credit course earns 1.5. Together that is 5.5 quality points over 1.5 credits, which works out to a GPA of 3.67.
Grade point values
These are the standard conversions used by the calculator above, the same values used on the overwhelming majority of American high school transcripts:
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ / D / D- | 1.3 / 1.0 / 0.7 |
| B- | 2.7 | F | 0.0 |
Weighted vs. unweighted
An unweighted GPA treats every course equally on the 4.0 scale. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for more rigorous coursework before averaging: the common convention (and the one this calculator uses) is +0.5 for honors courses and +1.0 for AP and dual-enrollment courses, capped at 5.0 per course.
Neither is more “official” than the other. What matters on a homeschool transcript is stating which method you used, and printing the weighting rule if you weight. Many families list both numbers, which is exactly what admissions readers see from traditional schools.
Putting GPA on a transcript
A GPA only counts when it is documented. On a homeschool transcript the cumulative GPA appears in a summary block alongside total credits and the graduation date, backed by the course-by-course listing that produced it. Our guide to the homeschool transcript template covers every field that document needs, and the record-keeping guide shows what to keep during the high school years so senior-year transcript building takes an evening instead of a month.
FAQ
How do I calculate my homeschooler's GPA?
Convert each course's letter grade to grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0), multiply each course's grade points by its credit value to get quality points, add up all the quality points, and divide by the total credits attempted. The result, rounded to two decimal places, is the GPA. For a weighted GPA, add 0.5 to the grade points of honors courses and 1.0 to AP or dual-enrollment courses before multiplying, capped at 5.0 per course.
Should homeschoolers use a weighted or unweighted GPA?
Either is acceptable as long as the transcript states which one is used. An unweighted GPA puts every course on the same 4.0 scale. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for more rigorous coursework, commonly 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or dual enrollment. If you weight, print the weighting rule on the transcript so a GPA above 4.0 can be interpreted correctly. Many families report both.
How many credits is a homeschool course worth?
The common convention is 1 credit for a full-year high school course (roughly 120 to 150 hours of work) and 0.5 credit for a semester course. Some families award 0.25 for short courses. A textbook finished, a syllabus completed, or documented hours are all accepted ways to justify a credit.
What GPA scale do colleges expect from homeschoolers?
The standard 4.0 scale, the same as any other applicant. Admissions offices routinely receive parent-issued transcripts on a 4.0 scale, weighted or unweighted. What matters is that the scale and any weighting rule are printed on the transcript itself, so the reader can interpret the number without guessing.
Does an A+ count as more than 4.0?
On most scales, no. A+ and A both convert to 4.0 unweighted. The values above 4.0 come from course-type weighting (honors, AP, dual enrollment), not from the letter grade itself.
Can grades earned before 9th grade count toward GPA?
Only if the course was genuinely high-school-level work, such as Algebra I completed in 8th grade. List it on the transcript with the year completed and include it in the GPA. Middle-school-level work does not belong in a high school GPA.